Keita delivers equalizer as Timbers draw Battery 1-1

June 13, 2009

The Portland Timbers continue their stretch of road matches tonight as they face the Charleston Battery; kick off is set for 4:30 p.m. (Pacific). Listen to the match live on 95.5 The Game or online. Catch a free video webcast through USL Live.

Click here for tonight's match notes.

Tonights Starters:POR:

CHA:

Match Preview:

The Portland Timbers face the first-place Charleston Battery as they wrap up a two-game road trip and a stretch of three matches in five days tonight at Blackbaud Stadium. Tonight's match is the first meeting between the two clubs this season.

With a 0-0 draw on Thursday, the Timbers extended their unbeaten streak in league play to nine games and recorded their third consecutive shutout. Over their past the games, Portland's defense has held opponents to a combined 18 shots. The Timbers have allowed just four goals through their first 10 matches this season - the second lowest goals against total in the USL First Division.

Now a third of the way through their 2009 regular season, the Timbers currently sit in third place in the USL First Division table with 19 points. Led by midfielder Ryan Pore three goals, Portland has scored 10 times through 10 matches.

The Timbers are 4-6-1 against the Battery since joining the USL First Division in 2001, including a 1-4-0 mark in Charleston. With a 0-2-1 record against the Battery in 2008, the Timbers are looking for their first win against Charleston since Aug. 23, 2007. Last season, the Battery scored twice, five minutes a part, to hand Portland a 2-0 loss in its lone trip to Charleston. The Timbers only win over the Battery in Charleston came on June 4, 2004 - a 90th minute penalty-kick goal by midfielder Alex Bengard sealed the 2-1 win.

The regular-season series between the Timbers and Battery continues on Aug. 8 in Portland, and then wraps up on Aug. 28, back in Charleston.

The Timbers are without leading scorer Ryan Pore, midfielder Tony McManus, forward Antouman Jallow and defender Takuro Nishimura for tonight's match due to injury.

The Timbers play their fourth consecutive road match on Tuesday, June 16, as they continue their U.S. Open Cup run with a second-round match against the Sonoma County Sol of the U.S. Adult Soccer Association (USASA) at Santa Rosa High School in Santa Rosa, Calif. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.